Guilty plea in death of former Belmont mayor, friend

Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 11:14 AM.

Photo Galleries

“He’s never denied accountability for what he did that night,” said Lutz. “He is as remorseful as any client I’ve ever represented.”

Tucker said her family has been devastated by her sister’s death.

Deitz served as the caregiver for her parents. Deitz’s father died eight months after the crash. Her mother’s dementia has worsened, requiring around-the-clock care. The family has to explain to her at least once a week what happened to her daughter, Tucker said.

Tucker said she grieves for all families involved, but she wants more than a hefty prison sentence for Norman, she wants change.

Police driving at high rates of speed might as well be firing guns on the street, she said. Local and national police policies need to change, said Tucker.

“The police share heavily in the blame for what happened,” she said. “It’s our fault for allowing this.”

You can reach reporter Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.

Lester Saunders Norman Jr. will spend at least 25 years in prison for causing a crash that killed a Belmont man and woman in February.

But at least one woman says Norman’s not the only one responsible for the deaths.

Norman was eluding police when he crashed into a car, killing former Belmont Mayor Kevin Loftin and his friend, Donna Jean Deitz. Loftin’s car then spun into another car where two more people were injured and that car then struck a fourth where yet another person was hurt.

Norman was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, felony death by vehicle, two counts of reckless driving, assault on a government official, speeding, DWI and driving with a revoked license.

Judge Robert Sumner sentenced Norman to a minimum of 25 years and a maximum of 31 years in prison Tuesday.

The sentence was part of a plea arrangement offered by Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell.

Norman pleaded guilty to all charges. As part of the plea agreement, he was sentenced for two counts of second-degree murder, speeding to elude arrest causing death and reckless driving. The other charges were consolidated.

Bell said that North Carolina law does not allow the state to charge anyone with first-degree murder in a vehicular death.

Fatal crash

Norman and another man were getting off I-85 in Belmont when they drove up on a police checkpoint about 10 p.m. on Feb. 22.

Out on parole for felony charges, Norman made a decision to blow by police officers and get back on the interstate, Bell said in court.

The next few minutes were chaos, according to Ellen Deitz Tucker, Deitz’s sister.

Tucker spoke in court Tuesday about the police chase that led to her sister’s death. Tucker and her brother have watched the video footage shot from one of the officer’s dashboard camera. She described how officers accelerated to 120 mph to catch up to Norman. She said an officer tried to box Norman in using an uninvolved driver in the process, and she accused the policeman of trying to push Norman into a guardrail, an act that could have ended in a fatal crash.

Ultimately, Norman eluded officers and took the next exit, N.C. 273. Norman turned right and drove up on the intersection of Wilkinson Boulevard where a fatal crash did occur.

Police chase

When Tucker spoke on behalf of her family, she read from a four-page statement. Only one paragraph was directed solely at Norman.

Tucker told Norman she hopes he spends his time in prison improving himself and learning to make better decisions.

“I pray you find a way of respecting your own humanity, and respecting the humanity you share with the rest of us on this fragile planet,” she said.

Outside of the courtroom, Tucker said she’s contacted the Belmont Police Department repeatedly to ask about their procedures and to find out if any changes have been made since the fatal crash. Tucker said she was told that the matter wouldn’t be discussed until the case was closed.

Tucker said she intends to call again now that Norman has been sentenced.

“It is now time for the Belmont community to study the problem brought to light by the deaths on Feb. 22. Of course the community wants to see police authority respected. But we must demand that the police either find safer ways to stop fleeing drivers, or that they only bring them to justice after they’ve stopped on their own,” Tucker said.

Police policy

Belmont police officers can pursue a suspect when a felony has been committed.

Norman tried to run over an officer when he blew through the checkpoint, said Belmont Police Chief Charlie Franklin.

Franklin said that while the incident ended in tragedy, his officers followed procedure. No officers were suspended or disciplined in the wake of the crash.

Officers have to fill out paperwork that goes to their supervisor and the chief when they are involved in a chase. Franklin can either sign off on the chase or launch an investigation.

In 2011, Belmont Police engaged in three chases. No one was injured or killed in those instances.

Officers initiate pursuit when they believe someone has committed a felony, Franklin said.

A police chase ended in death in 2005 in Belmont. David James was chief then and saw a man push a woman out of a vehicle at a DWI checkpoint. The woman told James she had been assaulted, so he started to follow the man — but before James could catch up with him, the vehicle crashed and the driver died.

Belmont held the most checkpoints in 2011 of any municipality in Gaston County, including the much larger city of Gastonia. Belmont had 158 checkpoints compared to 95 in Gastonia and 12 neighboring Mount Holly.

No winners

Forty-two-year-old Norman will be well into his 70s before he’s up for parole.

His daughter, Te’yana Clyburn, stood before the judge Tuesday morning to speak on her father’s behalf. She sobbed as she spoke about losing her father while he’s incarcerated, and she turned to the families of Loftis and Deitz and apologized for the tragedy.

Norman chose not to speak.

Defense attorney Rocky Lutz said his client wakes up each day with regret for his bad choices the night of the crash.

“He’s never denied accountability for what he did that night,” said Lutz. “He is as remorseful as any client I’ve ever represented.”

Tucker said her family has been devastated by her sister’s death.

Deitz served as the caregiver for her parents. Deitz’s father died eight months after the crash. Her mother’s dementia has worsened, requiring around-the-clock care. The family has to explain to her at least once a week what happened to her daughter, Tucker said.

Tucker said she grieves for all families involved, but she wants more than a hefty prison sentence for Norman, she wants change.

Police driving at high rates of speed might as well be firing guns on the street, she said. Local and national police policies need to change, said Tucker.

“The police share heavily in the blame for what happened,” she said. “It’s our fault for allowing this.”

You can reach reporter Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.